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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers

This tour through Google’s California headquarters sounds like one of those late-night infomercials that just keep tacking on the promises. From free food, free gyms, massages on your birthday, and a multitude of laundry machines so that you don’t have to take a trip to the laundromat, Google’s fringe benefits just keep on giving.

Considering how long ago the U.S. went through its industrial revolution, it's surprising that OSHA wasn't formed and ratified until 1971. The organization, which is now a staple in any workplace, was formulated because in the two preceding years, some 28,000 workers died from workplace hazards. Every year, another two million were disabled or harmed.

While much of the world's attention is currently focused on electric cars, the development of 2nd generation biofuels is moving ahead significantly as well. Researchers of the University of Twente, in cooperation with BTG (as part of the Biocoup consortium) have reached a breakthrough in the conversion of biomass into liquid biofuel.

CNN reports on an old weapons factory in Baghdad that now makes robots that will help Iraqi police and military in the disposal of bombs. The most incredible thing about the story is what the factory — and its manager — used to make under the Hussein regime: bombs.
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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Boom from the BP oil spill is getting a new charge from the maker of the Chevrolet Volt electric car.
General Motors says that instead of going to landfills, roughly 100 miles of plastic boom material will be converted into vehicle parts.
The parts deflect air around the vehicle's radiator.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Mark Hurd is facing more fallout from his ouster five months ago as CEO of Hewlett-Packard Co., the world's biggest personal computer and printer maker.
The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating the circumstances of Hurd's forced resignation in August, a surprising exit that triggered an immediate $9 billion drop in HP's market value and involved allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate sharing of inside information.

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) — Union workers at Kohler Co. have approved a new contract against the recommendation of their leaders.
The contract passed with 62 percent of the vote. Vote totals were not made available immediately following the vote Sunday in Sheboygan.
The contract calls for a 5-year pay freeze, and workers will pay more for health insurance.

NEW YORK (AP) — Drug developer Pfizer Inc. on Tuesday recalled a batch of 19,000 bottles of the blockbuster cholesterol drug Lipitor, citing a consumer complaint about an "uncharacteristic" odor.
The latest announcement marks the fourth such recall since August over similar issues. Pfizer said the bottles were supplied by an outside manufacturer, though it did not identify the party.

Experts say U.S. gasoline demand is at the start of a long-term decline following seven decades of mostly uninterrupted growth. Here are key moments marking the rise and fall:
1905 — Country's first gasoline filling station is built in St. Louis.
1946 — Gasoline demand rises 25 percent the year after World War II ends.

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. has agreed to pay the U.S. government a record $32.4 million in additional fines to settle an investigation into its handling of two recalls at the heart of its safety crisis.
The civil penalties will settle investigations into how Toyota dealt with recalls over accelerator pedals that could get trapped in floor mats and steering relay rods that could break and lead to drivers losing control.

Yokogawa (Newnan, GA) has announced the CA450 Process Multimeter, which combines the functionality of a digital multimeter and a 4-20mA loop calibrator into a single instrument. The CA450 allows maintenance personnel to source and measure with a single handheld tool, which helps minimize the amount of equipment users have to carry.

NEC Avio Infrared Technologies (San Fernando, CA) has introduced its new InfReC R300 high-definition thermal imager with a variety of capabilities, which includes a thermal movie recording mode, thermal/visible integrated images, a resolution (NETD) of 0.05°C, and an accuracy of ±1°C (1 percent).

Carts and trucks covered with the covers/caps from EDGECO (Little Ferry, NJ) will keep odors contained and will not spill, according to the company. Material options for the covers include a fire-, bacterial-, and water-resistant vinyl or a heavy-duty nylon in a variety of sizes and colors. A shock cord in the hem provides for a snug fit.

Master Bond (Hackensack, NJ) had developed a thermally-conductive epoxy system that is designed to mitigate the issues associated with tightly-packed components and miniaturized electronic circuits. With a thermal conductivity of 22 BTU/in/ft²/hr/ºF and serviceability from -60 to 400°F, the EP21ANHT delivers in demanding microelectronic applications, according to the company.

In today’s age of rapid urbanization and industrialization, sustainable development is certainly the need of the hour for businesses and governments at large. Regardless of the size of the organization, nature of business and geography, there is an incumbent need for everyone to take up this challenge of developing ways to meet the future demands while maintaining the necessary balance in the environment, all in a commercially viable manner.

I was struck by a comment made by Rhode Island Governor, Don Carcieri in his presentation to the Northeast Shingo Conference : At the turn of the 19th century, his state was first in the nation in manufacturing, virtually the birthplace of modern manufacturing in the US and a leader in wealth creation.

SEATTLE (AP) — Competition among smart phone makers is heating up at retail, in advertising and, increasingly, in the courtroom as handset and software makers wield patent lawsuits to protect their turf and slow down their rivals.
Just a few years ago, smart phones were mainly for office workers who needed to check e-mail after hours.

EAST PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Negotiators for Caterpillar Inc. and the United Auto Workers are taking a break for the holidays and plan to resume talks on a contract on Jan. 11.
The contract covers about 9,500 workers at a number of sites around Illinois and in three other states.
The two sides met Thursday for about two hours.

SHANGHAI (AP) — Communities in central and northern China are facing power cuts and rationing as winter coal supplies fall short of surging demand.
Cold weather and transport disruptions typically cause shortages most years, but the problem has been complicated by coal producers' unhappiness over price controls that are crimping their profits.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Qatar Airways' CEO voiced confidence in Boeing Co. over its delayed 787 program Saturday, but warned the fast-growing carrier may scrap orders for the planes if development problems drag on.
Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker noted, however, that there are no current plans to amend Qatar Airways' multibillion-dollar orders for 30 787s and options for 30 more.